Iurii Borysov to Help Sponsor Establishing Holocaust Museum in Chernivtsi

Ukraine Businessman and Others Will Step in to Make the Project Possible

The historic Jewish memorial, “Beit-Kaddishni” or “House of Farewell” in Chernivtsi, South-Western Ukraine, will finally get the respect many feel it is due.&nbsp; With the private sponsorship from the well-known Ukraine businessman, Iurri Borysov, and a few others as well, the unique ritual structure will be revived.

“I am pleased to be a part of such a worthy project,” state Iurri Borysov.&nbsp; “I look forward to seeing it completed.”

Iurii Borysov is a prominent businessman in Ukraine who hails from Chernivtsi.&nbsp; He agreed to take part in the Holocaust Museum project which thrilled those who have interest in it.&nbsp; Now, negotiations are underway with other individuals, institutions and organizations and with the Austrian Embassy in order to reconstruct the Jewish memorial into a Holocaust Museum.&nbsp; The Romanian Embassy has expressed an interest in the project as well.

The “Beit-Kaddishni” or “House of Farewell” is a historic Jewish memorial located on the territory of a Jewish cemetary on Zelena (Green) Street that was left untouched by the Nazis in the war.&nbsp; After the war, however, the Soviet government transformed it into a warehouse that stored row material rather than the religious building it once was.&nbsp; The transformation was in keeping with the offensive yet “sophisticated” way of destroying the purpose of a religious structure.

The building has sat abandoned since the collapse of the Soviet Union, seen as a symbol of the Soviet era with all its destruction.&nbsp; The windows are broken and the walls destroyed.&nbsp; Some of the locals have said that it is symbolic of what the country was led to become following the Jewish migration and downfall of the economy of Chernivtsi.

A group of local activists took another viewpoint on the building, however.&nbsp; They have proposed to not only to resurrect and restore the building, but to give it a new purpose as well.&nbsp; Their mission is to establish a Holocaust Museum there.&nbsp; And now, with the assistance of Iurii Borysov and others who are expected to take part as well, the dream will become a reality.

Up until now, the main obstacle for the project has been funding.&nbsp; Ng The idea has been in place for several decades but was at a standstill with no money available for the project.&nbsp; With Iurii stepping in to help with sponsorship, everything is moving forward.

Marcus Clinker

Marcus is a reporter on the Political Capital team focusing on money in politics. Before joining Daily Telescope, he worked as a researcher and writer for the Institute for Northern Studies at Ohio State University and as a freelance journalist in Portalnd, having been published by over 20 outlets including NPR, the Center for Media and Democracy,The Huffington Post, Salon, Truthout and VICE.com.